[4] As a yearling in October 1997, Wannabe Grand was consigned by the Chippenham Lodge Stud Tattersalls and bought for 60,000 guineas by David Morris.
After being restrained by Swinburn in the early stages she took the lead inside the final furlong and won by one and a half lengths from Pipalong with Pescara a short head away in third.
On 25 July she finished fourth behind Mythical Girl, Gipsy Rose Lee and Rustic in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot Racecourse.
In September she was sent to Ireland for the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh and ran fourth behind Edabiya, Fear and Greed and Crystal Downs.
[8] On her final appearance of the season, Wannabe Grand, ridden by the veteran Pat Eddery was one of nine fillies to contest the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on 29 September.
After being restrained in the early stages, she began to make progress in the last quarter mile, took the lead 150 yards from the finish and won by half a length from Imperial Beauty.
In the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June she started the 11/4 favourite but dead-heated for third with Valentine Waltz behind Balisada and Golden Silca.
[10] On her final appearance in Europe, Wannabe Grand contested the Haydock Sprint Cup on 4 September and finished seventh of the sixteen runners behind the four-year-old colt Diktat.
In the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes over nine furlongs at Keeneland Racecourse on 9 October she was ridden by Robby Albarado and stayed on well in the closing stages to finish third behind Perfect Sting.